The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-03-24

glass from his niece and entered b
house.
Shortly afterward he emerged again
and took the way to the stables, and a
few moments later Ailsa saw him drive
rapidly away to Victoria
And now pretty blue-eyed Ailsa did
several strange things First of all she
flew upstairs to her uncle's room, from
which she shortly afterward emerged
with a roll of brilliantly hued bunting
in her arms. Then she entered the
dark little passage and staircase which
led up to the ''tower," A few moments
afterward, had any n been looking,
they might have noticed a strangely
figured square of bunting rise slowly to
the top of the flagstaff which sur
mounted the ''tower." But no one
seemed to remark the fact, not even
Ailsa herself, who, leaning put of the
round window, with her uncle's glass
again in her hand, seemed to be watch
ing once more for the little white-sailed
craft still visible far down the sound.
A moment silently passed, and then, as
she saw a bright spot of red shoot to
the masthead of the distant sloop, a
joyous exclamation left her lips, and
she closed the telescope, and swiftly
but carefully drew down the flag.
Could it be that thus, from an in
mate of his own household, Duncan
Macfarlane's intended prey vas to re-
ceive the warning which should save
him and balk the worthy captain once
again?
Darkness had settled down over the
shores of the sea, and about the Mac
farlane cottage every thing seemed
sunk in the peaceful calm of night. The
captain, indeed, was absent. and Ailsa
could readily guess upon what errand.
The servants had retired to their own
rooms. and their young mistress, there
fore, had the whole front of the house
to herself. Perhaps she was lonesome,
and if so it may have been this which
caused her to prefer the murmur of the
waves and the companionship of the
stars to the loneliness of the drawing
room. At all events she had deserted
the latter for her old position upon the
steps of the porch, where, wrapped only
in a light, feecy shawl, for the night
vas warm and pleasant, she sat alone
with her thoughts.
Though the sky was clear and un-
clouded, there was no moon, and the
sound, as it lay before her, was but a
broad waste of darkness, upon the sur
face of which it was impossible to dis
cover any object. Ailsa, as she sat
upon the steps, tried to convince herself
that she was pleased that her warning
of the afternoon had been effectual, but
nevertheless she caught herself looking
wistfully out into the darkness, search
ing for something, she scarcely knew
what. Once she half rose from her seat
with a sudden start, for it seemed for a
moment as if, far away in the darkness,
there doomed something dimly white
and ghostly, like the wrath of a pass
ing ship. But the fancy faded as quickly
as it had come, and once more she re-
sumed her silent musing.
Slowly the time dragged by, but the
moment came at last when Ailsa
sprang to her feet with a smothered
cry. There could be no mistake this
time. Out in the darkness there
flashed for an instant a tiny flame of
blue light. 1t was smothered almost
before the girl had seen it, but she
seemed to slide swiftly down the steps
and toward the beach. Her pulses
were beating unanimously, and she
knew it was with joy, yet she kept re-
peating to herself: ooh, how could he
be so reckless! How I wish he had not
come tonight"
The gardetslopeJ dowcaathe beach,
and it was but a mSscsssng walFe ITO the
waters edge. But shoi as was the
time required a boat had grated upon
the beach. before Ailsa could arrive
there, and v as she paused, irreso-
lutte upon the verge of the last descent,
a dark form sprung swiftly up to where
she stood, and a rapturous voice ex-
claimed, in tones suppressed but full OF
tenderness:
"Ailsa, Ailsa, my own dear lassie! we
have met one more"
Ailsa gave him both of her hands,
but a greeting such as this would not
do for this impetuous lover. His arm
went round her waist, aad he drew her
dear little golden head close against
his breast. tenderly stroking the soft
silken hair and kissing again and again
the warm cheek hat was turned to.
ward him so shyly.
"Ailsa, my darling little Ailsa," he
murmured gently, 81 have SO longed
to see you. But have you no word Of
welcome for me-, dearP"
Indeed, 1 am glad to see you, AL.
lan," she answered, smiling up into
his face in the starlight. "But it was
reckless in you to come after my sig.
nal. thought you would not dare to
venture"
The young man laughed softly.
"Darey he said. 'Now 1 do wonder
what that uncivilized cd Highlander
of an uncle of yours would attempt tc
do if 1 fell into his clutches? He
couldn't do worse than dismember me,
could hep And the man who wouldn't
risk being q%uartered for the sake Of
your bright eyes, dearest, is no true
lover"
"But, Allan" persisted the girl
'.you really + in peril tonight, and
meant more than caution when 1 show
ed the signal this afternoon. Uncle
has notified the coast guards, anc
they are all on the watch for you to
night"
'tIs it possible? To what Importance
I seem to have risen! Faith, and wht
knows but that poor Allan Gordon ma,
be the subject of an international com
%plication yet. Won't that be an honor
But don't start away, nor tremble SO
my own little Ailsa. There's nothin.
to fear just now, surely"
'Dear Allan, I'm SO sorry, but yo1
really must CO.. 1 can't be easy Will